NEWS IN BRIEF

London for $35/night A room in central London for...

August 14, 2005|By From Tribune News Services

London for $35/night

A room in central London for about $35 a night? That's right at a new 34-room hotel called easyHotel. And, for a few dollars more, you might even get a window. Only three rooms do, and they're likely to be in high demand.

The easyHotel is located at 14 Lexham Gardens, near Cromwell Road and between South Kensington and Earls Court.

A few other details: no children under 18, three rooms are handicapped accessible, and there's a 5-pound charge (about $8.75) to use the TV for 24 hours. There's no food or service.

Rooms are cleaned upon arrival, but guests wanting additional cleaning during their stay have to pay 10 pounds (about $17.50). Rooms range in size from 60 to 80 square feet.

Reservations are available only online at www.easyhotel.com.

Kids free in Wisconsin

Kids 12 and under get in free all this month at eight Wisconsin Historical Society sites, including Circus World in Baraboo.

The program, underwritten by private businesses and individuals, is an expansion of a trial last summer at Old World Wisconsin in Eagle, according to Robert Granflaten of the Historical Society.

The offer isn't good during the Aug. 27 and 28 Wild West Show at Wade House, and at Circus World it's limited to one child per paid adult.

First Capitol in Belmont, also a Historical Society site, is always free admission.

China slightly more costly

If you're wondering how the recent revaluation of China's currency might affect the cost of a trip to China this summer or fall, here's a piece of advice: Don't worry. At least for now.

Late last month, the Chinese government announced that it would no longer peg the yuan strictly to the dollar. Instead, it is now loosely tied to a basket of foreign currencies; only top Chinese officials know which are included. Effective immediately, the government added, the yuan had been revalued and had appreciated, from about 8.28 to the dollar to 8.11--a change of about 2.1 percent.

That means, essentially, that your dollar has a little less buying power. For instance, that weeklong tour to Beijing, Xian and Shanghai that went for $900 now costs about $919. And the meter of a Beijing taxi that starts at 10 yuan, which used to be about $1.20, is now about $1.22. You should be more concerned with Beijing traffic congestion.

Furthermore, many five-star hotels and Chinese travel agencies are still quoting their rates in dollars.